Posts by bunboy

Double Royale – $16
2 dry-aged 1/4 lb patties, lettuce, tomato, fromage americain, big max sauce

I had spotted a pic of a Church Street Tavern burger on Instagram and it was all over from there. I had to try it.

I finally did, a few months later, and wasn’t disappointed. But wasn’t overjoyed, either.

It was a solid burger. Nothing bad, but nothing amazing either. Definitely nothing about this place that is worth going on and on about.

So, I won’t.

If you’re in the area, need a quick, unpretentious place to get some grub in your big ass belly, you could do worse than Church Street Tavern.

However, you could certainly do better.

ACCORDING TO YELP, THIS PLACE IS CLOSED!

Manhattan – $16

Spicy Margarita – $16

Tavern Fries – $7
Tempura Pickles – $6

Eggplant Parm – $14

The Original Tavern Burger – $16
our dry-aged “CST” blend, bacon-onion jam, aged cheddar, and arugula on a toasted brioche bun

The Wellington – $18
mushroom duxelles, foie butter, cheesy pastry crisp

Thanks to the ever changing weather in NYC, planning rooftop adventures can be challenging.

The last time I made a reservation at STK, it ended up raining, so we cancelled.

This time, it was hot as hell. I refused to cancel. I don’t care how hot it was, we were going to enjoy this damn rooftop, even if we left drenched in sweat and nearly die of whatever it is when someone dies in a hot car.

The one thing I was immediately struck by (besides the fact that we had to climb several flights of stairs in this heat to get to the roof) was how friendly everyone was. I guess

As every New Yorker knows, rooftops here are a scene. They’re a breezy nightclub filled to the brim with people you don’t want to be around.

However, if you really need an outdoor drinking and dining fix, come to these places at Brunch. They often are quite easy to score a ressie at and are less likely to be filled with the unsavory youth I was just mentioning.

I wasn’t expecting much when it came to the food (drinks were pricey and went down too quickly) it was a bit overpriced (which is to be expected, you’re paying a premium to eat your eggs whilst staring at a portion of a few ugly buildings with the wind at your back and the sun on your precancerous face.

The steak was my favorite and those massive Lincoln log fries were quite nice too. Kind of like me, those fries NEVER cooled down. Even the last, lonely fry was as molten hot as the first one.

26 Little W 12th St
New York, NY 10014
b/t Washington St & 9th Ave
Meatpacking District, West Village
(646) 624-2444
stkhouse.com

26 Little W 12th St
New York, NY 10014
United States
b/t Washington St & 9th Ave
Meatpacking District, West Village
(646) 624-2444
stkhouse.com

Truffle Fries

Tuna Tartare
avocado – soy honey emulsion – taro chips

Chicken Sausage Benedict
poached eggs – d’espelette hollandaise

STK Signature Lil Burgers*
caramelized onions – aged cheddar – special sauce

STK and Eggs
grilled skirt steak – 2 eggs – STK sauce

I didn’t go to any Memorial Day BBQ’s because of one simple reason.

I hate them.

Oh, and I wasn’t invited to any.

Oh, and I hate all of you (for not inviting me to any BBQ’s that I would have hated to go to).

Being someone with social anxiety, the very worst two words you could say to me would be “house party”. With the exception of “You’re coming with me to a house party, no excuses. I don’t care who died.”

When you say “house party” I think “Stranger Danger”. Attending these functions means you are trapped in a tiny, extremely hot environment where you are forced to gulp down multiple random cocktails in order to complete full sentences to people you don’t know. I use the word “cocktails” loosely as I really mean whatever beverage you’re able to fashion together with whatever motley crew of booze bottles are to be found strewn about the kitchen table. Grape Soda and bottom shelf tequila seem to be omnipresent.

BBQ usually means outside. Which could, essentially mean fresh air. So, one excuse down the drain? Not so fast! I lived in LA for 14 years, this means outside in the sweltering heat and smog-choked air! Add that to the copious amounts of grill smoke I’d be inhaling and it’s a emergency room visit waiting to happen. Do you even know how high my deductible is?? Some friend you are.

I celebrated this Memorial day by hopping down to one of the Pier’s that was hosting the USS Bataan for NYC’s famous Fleet Week to tour the ship and then seek out some sort of grilled meat to fill that BBQ party-less hole.

Luckily, just a few blocks away from Pier 88 was 44 & X (which is located conveniently on 44th and 10th Ave).

This place just screams many things. Brunch, outdoor dining, “Hey Sailor!” were just some of them.

The outdoor seating area was completely covered, which was much appreciated on this balmy almost-summer’s day. The server was friendly with just a touch of bitchy.

The prices are just a few bucks higher than neighboring dining options, but you’re paying for really great food and really great ambiance.

And I got my grilled meats! Hey Sailor!

The burger was exactly what I wanted. Perfectly cooked (was not in the mood for a pink center and didn’t get one) and a nice BBQ-grill-char on the outside. Burgers so rarely have a char on them. Damn anti-carcinogen fanatics!

It was the perfect, unpretentious burger in a semi-pretentious atmosphere.

The complimentary bucket of mini muffins were also not lost on me. We consumed the entire bucket and was even handed a second bucket without having to request it!

You can keep your BBQ parties, with your painful small talk and poisonous hot dogs. I’ll gladly pay good money for an hour where no one talks to me except to ask if I want more drinks. Even if the special of the day is Grape Tequila Surprise, the answer will be yes. Just set the drink down and walk away.

622 10th Ave
New York, NY 10036
b/t 44th St & 45th St
Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown West
(212) 977-1170
44andx.com

scrambled eggs, wild mushrooms,
smokehouse bacon and herb toast
$16

44 & X hamburger, English muffin,
crispy fries and garlic pickle
$15

Want to know a shocking truth? Carnegie Deli is kind of really bad.

I didn’t think so, at first. At first, I quite enjoyed my pastrami as a newbie New Yorker.

But then, I came back a few years later. As a real New Yorker.

Not good, folks….and I only have myself to blame.

To be honest, I didn’t order the Pastrami this time. That could just be my bad. Maybe ONLY come here for the pastrami.

Here are the facts:

1. The place is a tourist trap

2. The pickles are boring

3. Service is crappy

4. Our waiter was so slow and old, I was expecting a replacement to come up to us halfway through our meal to announce his sudden death.

5. The egg salad sandwich was, perhaps, one of the worst sandwiches I’ve ever had. The egg salad had zero flavor, the bread was dry and each bite squirted every last bit of egg salad in any direction except in my mouth.

6. It’s really expensive

7. They charge you extra to split an overpriced pastrami sandwich with someone!

8. The cheesecake is amazing!

9. Ok, fine. Come for the pastrami (after payday) and the cheesecake and it won’t be the worst decision you could make.

854 7th Ave
New York, NY 10019
b/t 55th St & 54th St
Midtown West
(212) 757-2245
carnegiedeli.com

Egg Salad Sandwich

Matzo Ball Soup

Cheeseburger Egg Rolls

I came here for the cheeseburger egg rolls. I stayed because I burned the shit out of my mouth on them, and needed a skin graft.

We arrived at this bright and airy brunch spot in Soho adjacent right when they opened and the place filled up shortly after that.

I was just about to devour the eggrolls in peace until a European couple got seated about 1.2 inches from our table, so we had to tone down our conversations and I had to eat less like a wild animal who’s last meal was about a week ago. Ugh.

They looked over at our eggrolls and I gave them a shining endorsement. I think one of them was a vegetarian and was not too pleased with my recommendation. She avoided all further eye contact afterwards. If she didn’t care to sear the roof of her mouth clean off via piping hot fried tubes of ground mammal flesh, that was her loss.

The fried chicken was pretty much perfect and I loved the dipping sauce. I think too many restaurants assume their chicken is perfect on it’s own. Everything can be improved by the addition of a dipping sauce. It’s been scientifically proven.

Turkey burgers usually bore the crap out of me (dry, flavorless), but this one was pretty decent and comes with a ton of fries. The meat was juicy, and chock filled with tons of herbs. Very flavorful. Shockingly so.

I would definitely return to Delicatessen. Those hot ass egg rolls were really fantastic, the service was friendly and prompt and I would love to try the other things on the menu.

Perhaps, next time I’ll even wait a few minutes before attempting egg roll oral surgery again.

54 Prince St
New York, NY 10012
b/t Mulberry St & Lafayette St
Nolita
(212) 226-0211
delicatessennyc.com

Doctor’s Orders – $14
Bulleit Rye, blood orange puree, orange bitters, muddled lemon, rocks

Cappucino

Cheeseburger Spring Rolls 12
ketchup-mustard sauce

The Bird – $15
fresh ground turkey, blend of herbs, whole wheat bun

Buttermilk Fried Chicken – $22
coleslaw, cornbread, house-made ranch

Hometown Bar-B-Que is home of the 5 hour BBQ.

Do I mean the meat is famous of being smoked for 5 hours?

No.

What I mean is, the entire experience will take you 5 hours, from when you leave your tiny ass apartment, til when you step tired foot back home. It’s a…journey.

Was it worth it? Yes, every New Yorker should try Hometown once.

The food was really tasty, the place is charming, the bartender lady was really fun (gave us free shots) and it was a fun excursion to Red Hook, especially the free Ikea water taxi back to Manhattan.

But no need to go through that twice. Unless you are having a hankering for an Ikea shopping spree.

All the sides were wonderful and the brisket was perfection but I’m not sure I’d order the Jerk Baby Back ribs again. A little too charred for my liking. Maybe that was just an accident?

454 Van Brunt St
Brooklyn, NY 11231
b/t Reed St & Beard St
Red Hook
(347) 294-4644
hometownbarbque.com

Smoked Pit Beans – $6

Collard Greens & Backyard Potato Salad – $6 each

Texas-Style Queso Mac & Cheese – $6

Brisket

Brisket 1/2 lb – $14

Jerk Baby Backs – $18

Some stranger’s platter of delights

“Do you live in the neighborhood?” the waitress asked me, as soon as I had finished ordering.

“No, I live in Chelsea”.

At that moment I was given an extremely subtle “Oh….well, what the hell are you doing all the way down here??” glance before she pleasantly walked away.

As many times as I’ve told strangers that I live in Chelsea, I still find myself having trouble determining what they think of my neighborhood. Do they think I’m rich? Or a snob? Or boring, because Chelsea isn’t the most exciting place, from a restaurant standpoint.

Maybe I should start telling everyone I live in Hoboken?

Nakamura is a cute little ramen spot (when are ramen spots every large and spacious??) right next to the entrance of the Williamsburg bridge. It’s near the Delancey street subway station, but as you’re walking to the restaurant, you’re hit with the impression that you’re headed the wrong way.

Or the right way to a quick and brutal assault.

The Ramen is on the pricey side. In total, mine cost $25 which included a nice tip. $16 was the base but you have to order that wonderful $2 egg. You have to. Or the only assault you’ll have to worry about is from me.

I ordered the Curry Spiced Beef ramen, which was really tasty. The noodles were a bit thicker than I prefer but the broth was lovely. I rarely see curry ramen, so I always jump on it when it appears on a menu.

The broth is chicken based, so it’s not as thick and fatty as the pork based Tonkotsu that every new ramen joint sells.

The beef was really high quality and not too fatty. You’re definitely paying more for higher standards, so getting super full for $25 bucks isn’t the worst deal in NYC.

Getting full for $8 and then spending the next few hours in agony in the bathroom….definitely not a great deal, cheapo.

172 Delancey St.
New York, NY 10002
b/t Attorney St & Clinton St
Lower East Side
(212) 614-1810
nakamuranyc.com

Notice the “Cirantro” misspelling. Crute, I mean cute.

Ajitsuke Egg – $2

Curry Spiced Beef Ramen – $16

Pete’s Tavern is the “Oldest Original Bar in New York City – Opened 1864” according to the gold sign posted on the wall on your way to the toilet. I feel like this claim is made by at least 5 NYC Bars, but let’s just assume Pete’s is telling the truth.

Regardless, this place looks and smells OLD. I love it.

The veal meatball hero is animal suffering at it’s tastiest. I only order veal about once a year and always feel terribly guilty about doing so. Yet, I still order it. It’s just so…tasty (and cheap, only $9.50!)

The sandwiches all come with a small plate of both uninspired potato salad and bland cole slaw. Truly forgettable. thank goodness it’s not extra.

The veggie burger looked a bit frightening but I’m told it was delicious.

The salmon entrée is probably the last thing I would order but I did notice the plate was sufficiently cleared, so I’m assuming it wasn’t revolting.

Pete’s is great for an after work drink (as long as you don’t mind a crowd) but I love it for lunch when there’s nobody around. Quiet, peaceful, cheap and old.

Funny how I appreciate the same traits in a restaurant as I do in my grandma.

129 E 18th St
New York, NY 10003
b/t Irving Pl & 3rd Ave
Union Square, Gramercy, Flatiron
(212) 473-7676
petestavern.com

Grilled Salmon with Lentils

Veggie Burger with Goat Cheese

Veal Meatball Hero

Mission Cantina has some really spotty reviews on Yelp. Every time I felt like going, I would visit their Yelp page and change my mind.

I had originally wanted to brunch at the STK rooftop but my sunny day turned grey and sprinkly, so I had to think on my feet. Where to go, last minute??

Having not much time to think or plan, I nearly literally pulled Mission Cantina out of my ass.

I knew immediately I wanted to try their new Green Chili (or is it Chile?) burger with melty mozzarella and feta. It did NOT disappoint. I loved that the green chilies were fermented and I loved the cheese crispy stuck to the bun. A truly fantastic burger.

The Crab Rangoon was just ok. I mean, it was fried, so it was better than ok. But not much crab going on. And not much blackberry in the blackberry dipping sauce.

“Ah, eventually you do plan on having dinosaurs on your dinosaur tour, right?”

The Fried Chicken burrito was overpriced and also just ok. I mean, I’ll eat even bad Mexican food and this, by no means, was bad. It was just ok. No burrito should cost $20 with tax. Also, the whole “fried” aspect gets lost inside a burrito, where the chicken coating was sog central. I should have gone with the Chinese burrito so I could have probably been disappointed an entirely different way.

The burrito also came with the world’s worst “tortilla chips”. Someone fried a corn tortilla a week ago, then rediscovered it in the back of the fridge, licked it completely to remove every ounce of salt and then broke it up into tasteless shards next to our burrito. An empty space would have been far more appreciated than what we were presented with.

The margaritas were tasty and strong, which I DID appreciate.

The servers were friendly enough but also quite aloof. They were both dressed in their hang out clothes and their demeanor and interest in serving customers expediently perfectly matched their ‘Video game marathon in parent’s basement’ outfits.

172 Orchard St
New York, NY 10002
b/t Houston St & Stanton St
Lower East Side
(212) 254-2233
missioncantinany.com

Crab Rangoon – $7

Fried Chicken Burrito – $18

Green Chili Cheese Burger – $18
Fermented Green Chili peppers, mozzarella & feta

I had wanted something really awesome to move into this spot. Before, it had been a really shitty Italian restaurant. I think they barely had 2 stars on Yelp.

Upscale Mexican is what we got. I come from LA, I know my Mexican food. However, I don’t poo poo upscale Mexican like some folks do. I like cheap ass tacos as well as $29 Jidori chicken enchiladas. There’s room in my stomach for both.

Yet, I was still apprehensive. If you’re paying a lot of money for food that you know you can make at home for $1.50, it had better be good. Which is why people get upset at places like this. Often times, the food is just ok and they wish they had gone to the Taco Bell and just ordered a few margs.

Guacamole is a dish that has been getting exponentially expensive lately. This used to be a $4 appetizer. Now, they charge you $18 and try to justify the cost by making it in front of you, at your table.

No! Make it in the back, and charge me half! I don’t care if you haven’t washed your hands or maybe dropped something weird in it. I will never be fine dropping that kind of cash on smushed avocados.

Which is why we didn’t order guacamole. We ordered drinks and apps. The best items to order at an upscale Mexican restaurant. Nothing over $15 and no one leaves angry.

I LOVED the corn on the cob and the Lupillas (the croquettes). Definitely worth the money. In fact, I want them both right now.

The Aguachile de Callos was a nice scallop version of ceviche and you really get a decent amount of food when you order the Huarache Chido, a Mexican flatbread. The Serrano ham was a bit hard to chew threw and very salty but that’s not Temerario’s fault. That’s just the nature of Serrano ham. The bastard.

The drinks were superb. They weren’t cheap but they certainly packed a punch.

I would definitely come back (considering I live exactly one block away) but I do love that finally our hood has a hip, bustling place to get a margarita that isn’t frozen or filled with hangover inducing plastic bottle tequila.

198 8th Ave
New York, NY 10011
b/t 21st St & 20th St
Chelsea
(212) 645-2100
temerarionyc.com

Aguachile de Callos – Bay scallops, jalapeno, mescal lime jus, cucumber, burnt chiles – $14

Lupillas – Longaniza and Manchego Croquettes, manzano cream – $10

Elote – Grilled Corn on the cob, Lime mayo, Chile de arbol – $7

Huarache Chido – Grilled Corn huarache, potato chorizo hash, arugula, Serrano ham, salsa – $13